Prisoners Literature Project

Volunteer

A photo of volunteers selecting books at PLP

The Prisoners Literature Project is based in Berkeley, California, and we’re always looking for volunteers to help answer letters, send out books, and assist with other administrative tasks. Our volunteers say they enjoy the inclusive, friendly and respectful environment that we strive to maintain.

During and following the COVID-19 pandemic, the PLP still hosts smaller in-person volunteer sessions multiple times per week, currently by invitation only, and following safety protocols to protect us all.

Please fill in this Google Form to get on the list to be contacted about attending a session! And please note that we receive many volunteer applications, and we run a limited number of sessions, so it might be a while before we can get back to you or invite you to attend a session.

About the Prisoners Literature Project

The Prisoners Literature Project is an inclusive, all-volunteer, grassroots nonprofit whose purpose is to encourage reading, the pursuit of knowledge, and self-determination among incarcerated people. By sending free reading materials to those behind bars, PLP aims to foster learning and critical thinking and help prepare people to lead successful lives after incarceration. We believe that all people have a right to read.

Please consider donating to the PLP or volunteering your time (if you live in the Bay Area, CA!) to help us answer letters from prisoners who write us from all over the United States.

Latest News
PLP Giving Tuesday update – matching funds now $5,500!
Nov 2023

Thanks to a kind donor, the matching for Prisoners Literature Project’s Giving Tuesday campaign has been upped to $5,500. So every dollar you give, up to $5.5k has its impact doubled, until Friday, Dec. 1st.


PLP needs your help with our deficit – get your donation $ doubled!
Nov 2023

For our annual #GivingTuesday campaign, and Prisoners Literature Project has a special ask. To help us, we’ve put together $3,000 in matching funds, so the dollars you donate can be doubled from now until the end of November.


Halloween Horror Book Showcase
Oct 2023

Watch our new Halloween video! Horror books are in high demand by incarcerated readers. Help us “flesh out” our horror section by purchasing a scary book. Details including a range of titles on our donate page.